Will knows it will be a tough, uphill battle against Jack "the Hack" Tamarack. The Hack has been a major player in the Republican Party for many years and is the favorite to win the seat, until he is found dead on the green room floor before an important debate. Now, Will is asking Jacob to be more than his campaign manager, he is asking Jacob to find the real killer, get Will off the police’s suspect list, and still help him win the election.

As Jacob beings investigating the Hack and his background, he runs into several people who might not have been sorry to see Hack out of politics permanently, including his wife, Susan Tamarack and father George Tamarack. Jacob’s investigation also takes him to his wife’s college campus and puts her job and academic reputation in jeopardy.

Strange Bedfellows is a mystery that takes some strange twists and turns and ends up in a place few readers will expect. The plot is fast moving, and the pace helps propel the story ahead. Jacob is a very real, very likable character. He has a wry sense of humor and the dialogue is crisp and funny without being smart-alecky. Andrea, Jacob’s wife, is a strong supporting character, aiding and abetting where necessary, reigning in Jacob when needed. The Burns’ boys, currently answering to the nicknames, Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter, add a unique child’s perspective to some situations and much needed tension relief to others.

The third book in the series, Strange Bedfellows doesn’t lose the edge of the earlier two mysteries. Jacob and his family remain fresh characters, the storylines unique, providing good, fun entertainment for all.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry